Racing game apparatus

Abstract: A plurality of carriers (17a to 17d) are towed by a traction car (14) moving along a guide portion (18) provided under a travel road surface plate (13) through flexible pulling members (16a to 16d). Mobile models (12a to 12d) on the travel road surface plate (13) are attracted to the towed carriers (17a to 17d) by magnets. Hence, the mobile models (12a to 12d) on the travel road surface plate (13) travel in accordance with the movement of the traction car (14). Furthermore, when a plurality of winch units (15a to 15d) provided to the traction car (14) are separately operated to take up and rewind the pulling members (16a to 16d), the plurality of mobile models (12a to 12d) travel at different speeds.

Description: The present invention relates to a racing game apparatus in which a plurality of mobile bodies compete on a race course of a running surface plate, comprising: a trolley moving along or parallel to the running service plate, a plurality of carriers guiding said mobile bodies on the race course by attracting them by magnetic force. The racing game apparatus in which a plurality of mobile models (horses, vehicles, and the like) are caused to travel on an angular race course of a running surface to compete for a fast arrival is popular. An example of a racing game apparatus of this type includes a derby game, a car race, a boat race, and the like. A racing game apparatus of the above mentioned type is disclosed in US-A-3,326,555 wherein the trolley is embodied by a rotor member having a plurality of arms at the distal end of the rotor. The plurality of arms, each carrying permanent magnets at their end, are rotatably mounted on a belt which is turned around two pulleys. Each of the magnets attracts one mobile body on the other side of the running surface. Due to the kinematic of the arms, the carriers guiding the movement of the mobile bodies travel parallel along the path determined by the belt around the pulleys. This has the disadvantage that the racing game lacks reality. For example, two mobile bodies which are guided by the same arm always have the same distance to each other so that they cannot really compete with each other. It is the object of the present invention to provide an improved racing game apparatus of the above mentioned type which has a simple structure and enables a more realistic racing game situation. This object is solved with the racing game apparatus of the above mentioned type, characterized in that the apparatus comprises a plurality of a flexible string members for connecting said trolley with said plurality of carriers. A racing game apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a permeable running surface plate, a guide portion provided under the running surface plate along a travel road, a traction car or trolley which moves along the guide portion under the running surface plate, a plurality of carriers which are towed by the traction car and attract the mobile models on the running surface plate by magnets, and a plurality of flexible pulling members for connecting the traction car with the plurality of carriers, wherein the traction car is provided with a plurality of winch units for taking up and rewinding the pulling members. According to the racing game apparatus above, the plurality of carriers are towed by the traction car moving along the guide portion preferably provided under the running surface plate through the flexible pulling members. The mobile models on the running surface plate are attracted to the towed carriers by the magnets. Hence, the mobile models on the running surface plate travel in accordance with the movement of the traction car. Furthermore, when the plurality of winch units provided to the traction car are separately operated to take up and rewind the pulling members, the plurality of mobile models travel at different speeds. Since the traction car and the carriers are towed through the flexible pulling members, the respective carriers can freely move in a direction perpendicular to the travel direction. Thus, although the mobile models travel parallel to each other on the respective courses at straight portions of the travel road, at curved (corner) portions (and the straight portions before the curved portions when the pulling members are sufficiently long) of the racecourse, the mobile models traveling on outer courses shift to the inner course, so that many mobile models travel on the inner course. A racing game apparatus according to the other aspect of the present invention comprises a trolley provided under a running surface and self-traveling along a circulating track while attracting a plurality of mobile models on the running surface, a rotary base arranged at substantially a center of the circulating track and having a rotary shaft perpendicular to a plane including the circulating track, a cable supporter, having one end fixed to the rotary shaft and the other end fixed to the trolley, and flexible only along the plane including the rotary shaft so as to follow the trolley in a straight state while rotating around the rotary shaft as the center, and power supply cables, covered with the cable supporter, for transmitting power, supplied to the rotary base, from the rotary base to the trolley. According to the racing game apparatus above, power supplied to the rotary base is transmitted through the power supply cables extending in the cable supporter and is supplied to the trolley. Upon reception of the power, the trolley self-travels on a desired circulating track as it attracts a plurality of mobile models on the running surface. The cable supporter fixed to the trolley and the rotary base follows the trolley in a straight state while rotating around the rotary shaft of the rotary base as the center. Even when the distance between the trolley and the rotary base changes upon travel along the elliptic track, since the cable supporter is flexibly bent along the plane including the rotary shaft of the rotary base, a change in distance between the trolley and the rotary base is absorbed, so that smooth travel along the elliptic track is enabled. Furthermore, since the power supply cables extend through the interior of the cable supporter, they will not be entangled with each other even if the distance between the trolleys changes. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the outer appearance of a racing game apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional view showing the structure of a traction car and taken along a plane perpendicular to the travel direction; Fig. 3 is a sectional view showing the structures of slidable shoes and taken along a plane perpendicular to the travel direction; Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the racing game apparatus taken along the travel direction of the field course; Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the outer appearance of a racing game apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the structure of cable supporter; Fig. 7 is a plan view showing the structure of cable supporter; Fig. 8 is a plan view showing the structure of cable supporter; Fig. 9 is a sectional view showing the structure of a rotary power supply unit; and Fig. 10 is a side view showing a power supply mechanism for supplying power to the traction car. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the outer appearance of a racing game apparatus according to this embodiment. In this apparatus, a green running surface non-magnetic plate 11 having a field course drawn thereon is horizontally extended on the upper surface of a cabinet 10 obtained by obliquely cutting the four corners of a rectangular parallelepipe. Racing model bodies 12a to 12e resembling racing horses are placed on the running surface plate 11. A travel guide plate 13 having an opening inside the field course is horizontally extended in the cabinet 10, and a trolley, serving as traction car 14 is placed to sandwich the travel guide plate 13. A plurality of traction winches 15a to 15d are provided on the upper surface of the traction car 14, and traction ropes 16a to 16d extend from the traction winches 15a to 15d. The traction ropes 16a to 16d are guided at the rear end of the traction car 14 so as to direct the traction ropes toward slidable shoes 17a to 17d. Therefore, the traction ropes 16a to 16d does not be rolled up by the other traction winches 15a to 15d. Slidable shoes 17a to 17d fitted with magnets are mounted on the distal ends of the traction ropes 16a to 16d, respectively, to attract the racing model bodies 12a to 12d having magnets fitted in their lower portions through the running surface plate 11. Magnet and ferromagnetic body may be used instead of the magnets. The traction car 14 circulates on a guide rail 18 formed on the lower surface of the travel guide plate 13 along the field course, and the slidable shoes 17a to 17d towed by the traction car 14 also circulate in the same manner. Hence, the racing model bodies 12a to 12d attracted by the slidable shoes 17a to 17d also circulate in the same manner. From above the running surface plate 11, it looks as if the racing model bodies 12a to 12d were racing in the field course. The structures of the traction car 14 and the slidable shoes 17a to 17d will be described with reference to Figs. 2 and 3. Fig. 2 is a sectional view (I - I' sectional view of Fig. 1) showing the structure of the traction car 14 and taken along a plane perpendicular to the travel direction. Referring to Fig. 2, the traction car 14 has a approximately U-shape and is placed to sandwich the travel guide plate 13. Wheels are provided to an upper surface plate 14a of the traction car 14 so that they can move on the travel guide plate 13. The traction winches 15a to 15d are preferably equidistantly provided on the upper surface plate 14a to tow the slidable shoes 17a to 17d made of non-magnetic material(See Fig. 1). Drive motors 19a to 19d such as stepping motor for taking up and rewinding the traction ropes 16a to 16d are provided to the traction winches 15a to 15d, respectively. A travel drive roller 20, a guide roller 21, and a travel drive motor 22 for driving the travel drive roller 20 are provided to a lower surface plate 14b of the traction car 14, and the travel drive roller 20 and the guide roller 21 sandwich the guide rail 18. The travel drive motor 22 receives a desired power from a power supply (not shown) to rotate the travel drive roller 20. DC motor, AC motor, and stepping motor can be used for the travel drive motor 22. Upon rotation of the travel drive roller 20, the traction car 14 travels along the guide rail 18 at a predetermined speed. Fig. 3 is a sectional view (II - II' sectional view of Fig. 1) showing the structures of the slidable shoes 17a to 17d and taken along a plane perpendicular to the travel direction. Referring to Fig. 3, magnets 23a to 23d are fitted in the central portions of the slidable shoes 17a to 17d from above in such a manner that N-pole of the magnets are directed upwardly, for example. Magnets are fitted also in cars 24a to 24d of the racing model bodies 12a, 12b, ... on the running surface plate 11 in such a manner that S-pole of the magnets are directed downwardly, thus the slidable shoes 17a to 17d and the cars 24a to 24d attract each other. Since wheels are provided to the cars 24a to 24d of the racing model bodies 12a, 12b, ..., the racing model bodies 12a, 12b, ... can travel in accordance with the movement of the slidable shoes 17a to 17d. Further, each center of the magnets are located before the center of gravitation of the cars. A plurality of magnets may be arranged in a line along the forwarding direction of the cars. Fig. 4 is a sectional view (III - III' sectional view of Fig. 1) of the racing game apparatus according to this embodiment taken along the travel direction or the field course drawn on the running surface plate 11. Referring to Fig. 4, the traction ropes 16a, 16b, ... extend from the traction winches 15a to 15d provided to the upper surface plate 14a of the traction car 14, to tow the slidable shoes 17a, 17b, ... arranged on the travel guide plate 13. Additionally, the shape of the slidable shoes may be ship-like shape in which tip end becomes narrower. In case that slidable shoes are formed of ship-like shape, it is much easier for slidable shoes to intrude into two slidable shoes which travel in contact each other. The slidable shoes 17a, 17b, ... move in accordance with the travel of the traction car 14. The moving speeds of the slidable shoes 17a, 17b, ... can be changed by separately driving the traction winches 15a to 15d. More specifically, when the traction winch 15a is operated to take up the traction rope 16a, the slidable shoe 17a connected to the distal end of the traction rope 16a can be moved faster than the traction car 14. When the traction winch 15a is operated to rewind the traction rope 16a, the slidable shoe 17a connected to the distal end of the traction rope 16a can be moved slower than the traction car 14. When the slidable shoes 17a, 17b, ... are moved at different speeds in this manner, the racing model bodies 12a, 12b, ... attracted by the slidable shoes 17a, 17b, ... travel at different speeds. Since the slidable shoes 17a, 17b, ... are towed by the flexible traction ropes 16a, 16b, ..., they have freedom to move on the travel guide plate 13 in a direction perpendicular to the travel direction. Therefore, although the slidable shoes 17a, 17b, ... move parallel to each other at the straight portions of the field course, at the curved portions, many slidable shoes 17a, 17b, ... can gather at the innermost course and move. This is because the slidable shoes 17a, 17b, ... move along a minimum distance. Accordingly, the racing model bodies 12a, 12b, ... attracted by the slidable shoes 17a, 17b, ... move in the same manner, so that they travel parallel to each other at the straight courses and travel in a row on the inner course at the corners, thus realizing a motion very close to that of an actual Derby race. Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing a power supply mechanism for supplying power to the traction car 14. Referring to Fig. 5, a rotary power supply unit 25 is placed at the center of a bottom surface 10a of the cabinet 10, and an arm guide support groove plate 26 is mounted on the rotary power supply unit 25. A hollow cable supporter, that is, cable-built-in arm 27 which is bent into a "U" shape is placed on the arm guide support groove plate 26, and a proximal end portion 27a of the cable supporter 27 is fixed on the arm guide support groove plate 26. The traction car 14 is fixed to a distal end portion 17b of the cable supporter 27 with a coupling pin 28. As shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8, the cable supporter 27 has a chain structure in which a plurality of offset links (metal pieces) 271 to 273 are connected to each other with coupling pins 271a to 273a. The offset links 271 to 273 are provided with projections 271b to 273b for interfering rotation in one direction, so that the cable supporter 27 can be bent only in one direction, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. Cable hoses supporting guise apparatus made by TSUBAKIMOTO CHAIN such as TKP0320-1B,2B may be used as the supporter cable. Thus, the cable supporter 27 provided on the rotary power supply unit 25 shown in Fig. 1 can flex only in a direction (vertical direction) along a plane including the rotary shaft of the rotary power supply unit 25. Since the cable supporter 27 can be bent only in one direction in this manner, a portion of the cable supporter 27 above the bent portion becomes linear. Since the cable supporter 27 is not bent in a direction (horizontal direction) along a plane perpendicular to the rotary shaft of the rotary power supply unit 25, it follows the circulating operation of the traction car 14 in a straight state. Thus, the rotary power supply unit 25 rotates in an interlocked manner with this circulating operation. Since the traction car 14 travels along the elliptic track, the distance between the traction car 14 and the rotary power supply unit 25 changes as the traction car 14 travels. Since the cable supporter 27 has the structure described above, it can cope with a change in distance between the traction car 14 and the rotary power supply unit 25 by shifting the bent position of the cable supporter 27. In this case, since the cable supporter 27 can smoothly deform with substantially no load, no energy loss is caused. The cable supporter 27 covers cables 29 that transmit power, supplied from a power supply unit 30 to the rotary power supply unit 25, to the traction car 14. By this transmission, power is supplied to drive motors 19a to 19d of the traction winches 15a to 15d of the traction car 14 and to a travel guide motor 22. Even if the distance between the traction car 14 and the rotary power supply unit 25 changes, the length of the cable supporter 27 does not change, so that the cables 29 covered with the cable supporter 27 will not loosen. The cable supporter 27 itself is a technique already realized in the field of industrial robots and is utilized in, e.g., an extendible arm portion. This embodiment is an application of this technique. An example of application of a cable supporter in the field of industrial robots includes model MELFA RC-321 of Mitsubishi Electric Co., Ltd. Fig. 9 is cross sectional view showing an example of a rotary supply unit which can be used for the embodiment of the invention. The rotary power supply unit 25 has a structure as shown in the sectional view of Fig. 9. An upper surface plate 25b is provided to the upper portion of a rotary shaft 25a. The cable supporter guide support groove plate 26 is mounted on the upper surface plate 25b, and the cable supporter 27 is fixed on the cable supporter guide support groove plate 26. Slidable conductive brushes 31a to 31d are mounted to one end of the upper surface plate 25b and connected to the cables 29 for supplying power to the traction car 14. The slidable conductive brushes 31a to 31d are always in contact with rings, for example, disk-like induction pole plates 32a to 32d, and power cables 33 extending from the rings 32a to 32d are connected to the power supply unit 30. Thus, when the cable supporter 27 is rotated as the traction car 14 travels, the slidable conductive brushes 31a to 31d move along the peripheries of the rings 32a to 32d while they are constantly in contact with the rings 32a to 32d. Therefore, power from the power supply unit 30 is constantly supplied to the traction car 14. Slip rings "SPK-100-9P-02" made by HIKARI DENSHI KOGYO can be used for the rotary power supply unit of the embodiment. Fig. 10 shows a modification of the power supply mechanism shown in Fig. 5. In this modification, a cable supporter such as cable-built-in arm 34 having an extendible telescopic structure is used in place of the cable supporter 27 having the chain structure. Spring members 35a to 35d are wound on cables 29 extending from the cable supporter 34 so that the cables will not loosen even if the cable supporter 34 is contracted. Although the guide rail 18 is used in this embodiment to guide the traction car 14, a chain may be used in place of the rail. In this case, a chain is extended (at a position close to the center or the outer side) to replace the guide rail 18, and the traction car 14 is towed by the chain. When the chain is used, control of the current position and position detection of the traction car 14 are facilitated. The racing game apparatus according to the present invention is not limited to a Derby race but can similarly be applied to a car race, a boat race, and the like. Furthermore, the number of racing model bodies 12a to 12d towed by the traction car 14 is not limited to four but may be, e.g., eight. Also, in this embodiment, the racing model bodies 12a to 12d are towed by the traction car 14. However, the present invention is not limited to the scheme of causing the racing model bodies 12a to 12d to travel by traction, but can employ the scheme of directly attracting racing model bodies 12a to 12d on the car and causing them to travel, as shown in the conventional case of Fig. 10. Power supplied to the rotary power supply unit 25 is not limited to that from the power supply unit 30 incorporated in this apparatus but can be power supplied from an external power supply unit. According to the racing game apparatus of the present invention, since the traction car and the carriers are towed through the flexible pulling members, the respective carriers can freely move in a direction perpendicular to the travel direction. Thus, although the mobile models travel parallel to each other on the respective courses at straight portions of the travel road, at curved (corner) portions (and the straight portions before the curved portions when the pulling members are sufficiently long) of the travel road, the mobile models traveling on outer courses shift to the inner course, so that many mobile models travel on the inner course. In this manner, with the racing game apparatus according to the present invention, people can enjoy an exciting race in which respective mobile models compete in disorder and which is comparable to an actual Derby race. According to the racing game apparatus of the present invention, the cable supporter flexes along a plane including the rotary shaft of the rotary base. Therefore, even if the distance between the trolley and the rotary base changes upon travel along the elliptic track, the cable supporter can follow the trolley with a smooth rotary movement. Therefore, power for travel is constantly supplied to the trolley through the power supply cables extending through the cable supporter. Since the power supply cables extend through the interior of the cable supporter, they will not be entangled with each other even if the distance between the rotary base and the trolley changes. In this manner, according to the racing game apparatus of the present invention, a plurality of mobile models can be caused to travel with a very simple mechanism. Thus, a racing game apparatus free from troubles can be provided at a low price.

Claims: A racing game apparatus in which a plurality of mobile bodies (12,24) compete on a race course of a running surface plate (11), comprising: a trolley (14) moving parallel to the running surface plate, a plurality of carriers (17) guiding said mobile bodies (12, 24) on the race course by attracting them by magnetic force, characterised in that the apparatus comprises a plurality of flexible string members (16) for connecting said trolley (14) with said plurality of carriers (17). A racing game apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a guide portion (18) provided under said running surface plate (11), wherein said trolley (14) moves along said guide portion (18). A racing game apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a plurality of winch units (15) for taking up and rewinding said pulling members (16). A racing game apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said plurality of winch units (15) being separately operated to take up and rewind said string members (16) so that the plurality of mobil bodies (12, 24) travel at different speeds. A racing game apparatus according to claims 3 or 4, further comprising guiding members provided at the rear end of said trolley (14) for guiding said string members (16). A racing game apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said carrier (17) and said mobile body (12, 24) have at least one magnet (23) so as to obtain attraction force between them through the road surface plate (11). A racing game apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said plurality of winch units (15) are equidistantly provided on said trolley (14) in a direction perpendicular to forwarding direction of said trolley (14). A racing game apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a travelling mechanism having: guide roller (21) and travel drive roller (20) sandwitching said guide portion (18); and motor (22) having said travel drive roller (20) rotated. A racing game apparatus accrding to claim 1, further comprising: a rotary power supply (25) unit arranged inside of said running surface plate (11) and having a rotary shaft perpendicular to a plane including said road surface plate (11), a cable supporter (27), having one end fixed to said rotary shaft and the other end fixed to said trolley (14), and flexible only along the plane including said rotary shaft, and power supply cables (29), covered with said cable supporter (27), for transmitting power, supplied to said rotary power supply unit (25), from said rotary supply unit (25) to said trolley (14). A racing game apparatus accrding to claim 9, wherein said rotary power supply unit (25) has slidable brushes (31) connected with power supply cables (29) from said cable supporter (27), and fixed rings (32) being always contact with said slidable brushes (31). A racing game apparatus accrding to claims 9 or 10, wherein said cable supporter (27) has chain structure in which a plurality of offset links (271 ,272, 273) are connected to each other with coupling pins (271a, 272a, 273a).

Inventors: MORITSU TAKANAO, TATESAKA HIROYUKI, MORITSU, TAKANAO, TATESAKA, HIROYUKI, MORITSU, TAKANAO, C/O SIGMA INCORPORATED, TATESAKA, HIROYUKI, C/O SIGMA INCORPORATED
Applicants: SIGMA INC, SIGMA, INCORPORATED
Application year: 1994
Main classification: A63F9
IPC codes: A63F9